Building Resilient Teams

Navigating the Uncertain with Psychological Safety, Adaptability, and Collaboration

Leaders face the daunting task of navigating volatile landscapes. Resilience more critical within their teams. Building teams that weather storms and thrive in the face of the unknown is found in fostering three key qualities: psychological safety, adaptability, and collaboration.

1. Psychological Safety: The Foundation of Trust and Innovation

Fear of judgment or failure silences valuable ideas. It's a recipe for stagnation and missed opportunities. Psychological safety is where team members feel comfortable sharing even incomplete thoughts and taking risks. This creates a fertile ground for innovation and growth. Leaders can cultivate this safe space by:

• Modelling vulnerability: Share your own struggles and uncertainties, demonstrating that it's okay not to have all the answers.
• Encouraging open communication: Actively solicit diverse perspectives and create channels for feedback, both positive and negative.
• Praising effort and learning: Focus on the growth mindset, rewarding risk-taking and learning from mistakes, not punishing them.

1. Adaptability: Embracing Change as a Constant

The only constant is change, and clinging to rigidity in the face of uncertainty is a surefire path to failure. Resilient teams embrace change with agility, readily adjusting their strategies and approaches as needed. Leaders can foster this adaptability by:

• Creating a culture of experimentation: Encourage small, safe experiments to test new ideas and learn quickly.
• Empowering teams to make decisions: Decentralise decision-making, giving teams ownership and fostering a sense of agency.
• Celebrating learning from failures: Normalise setbacks and view them as learning opportunities, not roadblocks.

1. Collaboration: The Power of Collective Intelligence

No one leader has all the answers, especially in an ever-changing world. The strength of resilient teams lies in their ability to collaborate effectively, leveraging the diverse perspectives and talents of each member. Leaders can fuel this collaboration by:

• Building trust and respect: Invest in team-building activities that foster bonds and understanding.
• Promoting open communication: Encourage cross-functional communication and information sharing across teams.
• Leveraging technology: Utilise collaborative tools and platforms to facilitate seamless communication and knowledge sharing.

Nurturing these three qualities to build teams that are resilient and antifragile, grow stronger and are more adaptable in the face of uncertainty. Navigating the unknown is not about having all the answers; it's about fostering a team environment where learning, collaboration, and innovation can thrive.

From April 2024 edition of Awesome + Magazine.

More recent editions available at DamianAndrews.com